B.C. downhill racer Jakob Jewett is on the road to recovery. The Giant Factory Off-Road racer revealed that that road has been longer and more winding than he’d previously shared.
“The past 12 months have brought some of the hardest moments of my life. I’ve learned that no matter how hard you work or how badly you want something, sometimes life has other plans — and they don’t always make sense in the moment,” Jewett shared.
After a very strong 2024 season saw him win Canadian downhill nationals and finish 15th at world championships, Jewett didn’t quite match those results in 2025. While the Squamish rider was at most World Cups, injuries kept him from his full potential.
“After pushing through a tough 2025 season filled with setbacks and injuries, I was excited to enter the offseason finally feeling healthy and ready to move forward,” Jewett shared online. “Unfortunately, that didn’t last. A series of unexpected events led to multiple shoulder dislocations before the year ended.”
Following up on those dislocations revealed more damage to his left shoulder than expected, including some fractures. After attempts at rehab, surgery became the clear path forward.
“I’m not sharing this for sympathy, but for transparency. This has been one of the toughest tests I’ve faced, both physically and mentally,” Jewett said, adding, “Social media rarely shows what’s happening behind the scenes, and progress doesn’t always look the way you expect.”
Despite the less-than-straightforward road back to health, Jewett says he’s still focused on chasing the downhill World Cup dream.
“Deep down, I know I’m not done and I have a lot more that I want to accomplish!” He said in closing, adding “Jakob 2.0 loading…”
The Giant racer doesn’t have that long to get ready for the first World Cup. The 2026 season kicks off in early May with a new venue in South Korea. We’re looking forward to seeing Jewett back on teh startline whenever that happens, whether that’s in South Korea or later in the season. If he can get back to riding at his full potential, he’ll be a major threat when the World Cup makes its Whistler debut this year. Both he and his brother already have wins on that track from Crankworx racing.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…